Washing machine



April 17, 1928. 1,666,238

A. GRAYDON WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 18, 1921 4 Shets-Sheet 1 jnmnl r Aiexarader raydaz April 17, 1928.

A. GRAYDON WASHING MACHINE Original Filed 0013. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a Wot/"M 4,

April 17, 1928.

A. GRAYDON WASHING MACHINE Original Filed 001;. 1 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 17, 1928.

1,666,238 A. GRAYDON WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 1921 4 heet h et 4 Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER GRAYDON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

WASHIN G MACHINE.

Application filed October 18, 1921, Serial No. 508,597; Renewed February 5, 1924.

The present invention relates to washing machines of the general type disclosed in my copending applications, Serial Nos. 354,412 and 431.682. tiled January 27, 1920, and Deccmbcr 18. 19:20, respectively, and has for its object the provision of improved operating mechanism for such a machine.

An object of this invention is to provide a washing machine having its operating mechanism for reciprocating a suction plunger and rotating a clothes containing receptacle entirely enclosed within a housing adapted to contain a lubricant, the housing being preferably concealed within the machine casing.

A still further object of the invention is to arrange the gearing so that it may be assembled before it is placed within the housing, and be readily removed from the housing for inspection and repairs.

Other objects of the invention, such as the provision of operating mechanism which will function with a minimum of vibration, noise and wear, reside in the more specific details of construction which will be hereinafter set forth in describing the illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of the washing machine.

Fig. 2 is a section taken through the gear casing on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of 35 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an edge View of the removable cover of the gear casing showing the gearing mounted thereon, the casing being broken away, and the gear controlling switch mechanism being shown partly in section, and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line. 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, 10 indicates the machine casing which is divided by a horizontal partition 11 into an upper compartment 12 which serves as a tub, and a lower compartment 1?, containing the operating mechanism. The operating mechanism is located suitably supported within the compartment, as by screws 15 passing through the partition 11 and the adjacent wall of the housing. Power may be derived from any suitable source, preferably from an electric motor 16, shown as supported upon a platform 17 within a housing or casing 14 which may be formed upon the mechanism housing, the motor shaft 18 extending through the housmg into engagement with the shaft 19 hav ing a suitable bearing in the cover 14' of the housing. This shaft will be constantly driven While the motor is running, the motor being controlled by a suitable switch (not shown), and has fixedly secured thereon a driving gear 20 (Fig. 4) which is continually. in mesh with a planet gear 21 mounted upon an arm 22 extending from a sleeve 23 surrounding the end of the shaft 19. The sleeve has a bearing 24 in the housing cover and may be rotated by means of a shaft 25 connected thereto by a pin 26. The shaft 25 has, upon its outer end, an operating arm 27 by means of which the gear 21 may be given a movement in an are about the gear 20 for purposes hereinafter set forth. The gear 21 may be locked in any selected position by means of a spring pressed plunger 28 having an enlarged rctracting head 29, and operating within a sleeve 30 fiiiedly mounted upon the arm 27. The end of the plunger is adapted to be pressed by its spring into openings within a plate 31 upon the end of the sleeve 32 which is threaded into a hollow boss 33 upon the housing cover.

The planet gear 21 is shown in Figs. 2 and 4 as in mesh with a spur gear 34 fixedly mounted upon the hub extension 35 (Figs. 1 and 5) of a gear 36 which is rotatably mounted upon a fixed shaft 37 supported in a hearing 38 formed in a bearing plate 39 held in position upon the cover, as by screws 40. The shaft 37 extends through its bearing and has an extension upon which is secured a balance weight 37 The gear 36 meshes with a gear 41 loosely mounted upon the shaft 19, and the gear 41, being affixed to a gear 42 upon the same shaft, rotates the latter, which, in turn, drives a crank gear 43 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 37. The crank gear 43 receives the end of a crank 44,, the

opposite end of which .has a bearing 45 in the casing. The crank extends through an elongated slot 46 (Fig. 3) in a cross head 47 which has a sliding movement along guide pins 48 in the casing, the pins passing through eyes 49 upon the cross head. The cross head has a hollow'boss or socket 50 (Fig. 1) in which is inserted the end of a reeiprocable shaft 51, the shaft being locked therein by means of a cap 52 threaded upon the socket and having a top flange 53 exthe motor through the shaft 19, gear 20,

tumbler gear 21, and the gear train comprising gears 34, 36, 41, 42 and crank gear 43,

which latter reciprocates the cross head and shaft. 1

Upon the shaft is fixedly secured the suction plunger 58 which reciprocates with the shaft within a false tub 81,- which is preferably provided with perforated or foraminous walls. The false tub is rotatably mounted within the main tub 12 upon a collar. 59 which is supported upon bearings 60, preferably of the ball type, seated with in a recess in the top wall of the gear casing. The bearing collar 59, as will be noted, surrounds the sleeve56 and is held in position has, at its upper end, a stuflin box 62 to by a lock washer 61 upon the sleeve which prevent leakage of the washing fl uid into the gear casing. A second sleeve 63 surrounds the sleeve 56 and is secured to the collar 59 and the false tub by screws 64 assing through the bottom of the false tub into the bearing collar. The false tubmay be rotated by the shaft 51, th e upper end of which has a keyway receiving a key 65 within a sleeve 66 secured to the false tub cover 53'. Rotation of the shaft 51 will thus rotate the cover 53, and the same, having a flange 53" frictionally engaging the false tub, rotates the latter. r i

The mechanism for rotating the shaft 51 is also mounted within the gear casing 14 and comprises abevel gear 67 (Fig. 3) keyed to the shaft 51 and prevented from reciprocating therewith by the top wall of the easing and an extension of a bushing 68 which surrounds the shaft within the bearing The bevel gear 67 is driven from a beveled gear 69 loosely mounted upon a fixed shaft 70 secured in a bearing'71 in the housing cover. rotates with a spur gear 72 (Figs. 1 and 2) upon the same shaft, the gear 72 being driven from the planet gear 21 which may be shifted by the operating shaft 25 to mesh with the. motor is running and the planet gear 21' The bevel gear 69 is secured to and is being driven, the main shaft 51 is being neither reciprocated nor rotated to operate the washing mechanism.-

It should be noted that the entire gear mechanism for rotating and reciprocating the shaft 51 is mounted upon the cover 14, and thus the operating gears may be assembled before application of the cover to the casing, an arrangement which also permits ready inspection of the gearing without removing the entire housing. The casing 14 is adapted to contain a lubricant so that the gears may operate within a bath of oil, thus mmlmizlng wear upon the mechanism. The provision of the stuifing box 62 prevents the oil from working upwardly into the washing compartment, and it may be noted that-the shaft 51, at the point where it is alignment with the top wall of the gear housing, has an annular groove 51 surrounded by a bushing, this groove serving to assist the stuffing box in preventing the lubricant from working upwardly into the washing compartment.

Obviously, the stutfing box and groove prevent the washing fluid from dripping into the operating mechanism casing, but should any fluid leak into the casing, the same may be drained therefrom through a drain pipe 70' having a valve 71 therein which is operable from the exterior of the casing. It

will be understood that oil may be introduced into the casing through the mouth of the valve fitting 71, as by means of an oil gun, and when the level in the casing is on a line with the fitting, obviously the oil will be forced out through the drain pipe if the valve is opened. Consequently, it can readily be determined when suflicient lubricant has been introduced into the casing. Any washing fluid that leaks into the casing will immediately raise the level of the lubricant therein, and whenever the valve 71 is opened, this fluid which tends to thin the oil will be immediately discharged. vlVhen draining the Water from the casing, the operator will, of course, close the valve as soon as he notices the oil being discharged, and in this manner the lubricant in the casing may bemaintained atthe desired consistency.

The operation of this machine will be entirely clear from the above description taken in connection with my 'copending applications beforereferred to. but it should be understood that washing fluid, either hot or cold, as may be desired, is admitted into the tub 12 through inlet ports (not shown) until the tub has been sufiiciently filled. The motor control switch (not shown) is then thrown on" to operate the motor which drives the shaft 19 and the planet gear 21 normally maintained in neutral position. The planet gear is then shifted by the control arm 27 into engagement with the gear 34, and through the train of gears above described, the shaft 51 and its plunger 58 are reoiprocated within the tub. After the pounding and suction operation is completed, the planet gear is shifted into mesh with the spur gear 72 which rotatesthe shaft 51 through bevel gears 62 and 67, the shaft, at the same time, rotating the false tub and itscover. Either before or subsequent to this operation the water shouldbe drained from the tub through a drain pipe (not shown), and the rotation of the tub will satisfactorily dry the clothes.

In this application I am claiming only the operating mechanism for the machine; the mounting for the false tub; the means for establishing a driving relation between the shaft 51 and the false tub, and other improved features being claimed in my copending application Serial No. 508,598, filed on even date herewith.

It is to be understood that such modifications may be made in the illustrated and described mechanism as come Within the scope of mechanical skill and the following claims, the detailed disclosure being mere ly illustrative and in no sense restrictive ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a r0- tatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, a gear case adapted to contain a lubricant enclosing a portion of the shaft, a removable cover on said case, a gearing adapted either to reciprocate or to rotate said shaft, means for driving said gearing, and controlling means for said gearing operable from the exterior of said casing, said gearing being mounted upon the said cover whereby the gearing may be assembled thereon before application of the cover to the case.

2. In a device of the class described, a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, a gear case adapted to contain a lubricant enclosing a portion of the shaft, a removable cover on said case, a gearing adapted either to reciprocate or rotate said shaft, means for driving said gearing, and controlling means for said gearing operable from the exterior of said casing, said gearing and control means being mounted upon the said cover whereby the gearing may be assembled thereon before application of the cover to the case.

3. In a device of the class described, a reciprocable shaft, a gear case adapted to contain a lubricant enclosing one end of said shaft, a removable cover for said case, gearing Within the case for reciprocating said shaft, means for operating said gearing and gear controlling means, said gearing being entirely mounted upon said cover.

4. In a device of the class described, a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, a gear case adapted to contain a Inbricant enclosing one end of said shaft, a removable cover for said case, gearing for operating said shaft, and gear controlling means, said gearing comprising a gear continually in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon, said crank being in engagement with the shaft, and a gear shiftable by said control means for driving either of said gears.

In a device of the class described, a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, a gear case adapted to contain a lubricant enclosing one end of said shaft, a removable cover for said case, gearing mounted entirely upon said cover for operating said shaft, and agear controlling mechaniqn, said gearing comprising a gear continually in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon, said crank being in engagement with the shaft, and means movable by said mechanism for driving either of said gears.

b. A device of the class described comprising a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, a gear case adapted to contain a lubricant enclosing one end of said shaft, a cross head upon said shaft, a removable cover for said case, gearing for operating said shaft, said gearing comprising a gear constantly in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon connected to said cross head, and a con stantly driven shiftable gear adapted to be shifted to transmit power either to said shaft gear or said crank gear; and a controlling mechanism for shifting said constantly driven gear.

7. A device of the class described comprising a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft,a gear case adapted to contain a lubricant enclosing one end of said shaft, a cross head upon said shaft, a removable cover for said case, gearing mounted entirely upon said cover for operating said shaft, said gearing comprising a gear constantly in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon connected to said cross head, and a constantly driven, shiftable gear adapted to be shifted to transmit power either to said shaft gear or said crank gear; and a controlling mechanism for shifting said constantly driven gear. said movable gear having a neutral position.

8. A device of the class described comprising a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, .1 gear case adapted to contain a lubricant enclosing one end of said shaft, a cross head upon said shaft, a removable cover for said case, gearing mounted entirely upon said cover for operating said shaft, said gearing comprising a gear constantly in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon connected to said cross head, a constantly driven shaft, a gear fixedly secured to said shaft, a tumbler gear constantly in mesh with said last mentioned gear and having an arcuate movement thereabout; and mechanism for shifting said tumbler gear about said constantly driven gear in order to drive said first mentioned shaft gear or said crank gear.

9. A device of the class described comprising a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, a gear case adapted to contain a lubricant enclosing one end of said shaft, a cross head upon said shaft, a removable cover for said case, gearing mounted entirely upon said cover for operating said shaft, sald gearing comprising a gear constantly in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon connected to said cross head, said crank being connected to said cross head and having a bearing in said casing, a constantly driven shaft, agear fixedly secured to said shaft, a gear constantly in mesh with said last mentioned tumbler gear and having an arcuate movement thereabout; and mechanism for shifting said tumbler gear about said constantly driven gear in order to drive, said first mentioned shaft gear or said crank gear.

10. In a device of the class described, a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, agear caseadapted to contain a lubricant enclosing one end of said shaft, a removable cover for said case, gearing for reciprocating and rotating said shaft, said gearing comprising a gear constantly in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon, said crank being connected to said shaft and having a bearing at one end in said case, a constantly driven shaft having a driving gear thereon, and a tumbler gear having an arcuate movement about said driving gear and adapted to drive either said first mentioned shaft gear or said crank gear; and means for shifting said tumbler car. a g 11. In a device of the class described, a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, a gear case adapted to contain a lubricant. enclosing one end of said shaft, a removable cover for said case, gearing mountedientirely upon said cover for reciprocating and rotating said shaft, said gearing comprising a gear constantly in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon, said crank being connected to said shaft and having a bearing at one end in said case, a constantly driven shaft having a driving gear thereon, and a tumbler gear having an arcuate movement about said driving gear and adapted to be moved to drive either said first mentioned shaft gear or said crank gear; and meansfor shifting said tumbler gear.

12. In a device of the class described, a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, a gear case adapted to contain a lubricant enclosing one end of said shaft, a removable cover for said case, gearing mounted entirely upon said cover for reciprocating and rotating said shaft, said gearing com rising at geariconstantly in mesh with sai shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon, said crank being connected to said shaft and having a bearing at one end in said case, a constantly driven shaft having a driving gear thereon, and a tumbler gear driven from and having an arcuate movement about saidv driving gear and adapted to drive either said first mentioned shaft gear or said crank gear; means for shifting said tumbler gear, a short shaft for said crank gear, and a balance Weight on said shaft.

13. In a device of the class described, a rotatable and longitudinally reciprocable shaft, means adapted to reciprocate longitudinally or to rotate said shaft including a shiftable gear operative for effecting either movement of said shaft, and a shifting mechanism for said gear whereby the shaft may be selectively rotated or reciprocated.

14. In a device of the class described, a reciprocable and rotatable shaft, a gear on said shaft, and means for rotating or reciprocating said shaft comprising a gear train havin a gear continuously in mesh with said sliaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon, said crank being operatively connected with the shaft, a continuously driven gear shiftable for driving either of said gears, and controlling means adapted to shift said continuously driven'gear.

15. In a device of the class described, a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, a cross head on said shaft, a gear train for either rotating or reciprocating said shaft, said train comprising a gear continuously in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon operatively connected to said cross head, a continuously driven gear adapted to be shifted to drive either of said gears, and controlling means for shifting said shiftable gear.

16. Ina device of the class described, a rotatable and reciprocable shaft, a gear on said shaft, a cross head on said shaft, a gear train for either rotating or reciprocating said shaft, said train comprising a gear continuously in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon operatively connected to said cross head, a continuously driven gear adapted to be shifted to drive either of said gears, and controlling means for shifting said shiftable gear, said shiftable gearing having a neutral position.

17. A device of the class described comprising a rotatable and reciprocable shaft,-a

gear on said shaft, and means for either rotating or reciprocating said shaft comprising a gear constantly in mesh with said shaft gear, a gear having a crank thereon operatively connected to said shaft, a constantly driven shaft, a gear fixedly secured to said constantly driven shaft, a tumbler gear constantly in mesh with said last mentioned gear and having an arcuate movement thereabout, and mechanism for shifting the tumbler gear about said constantly driven gear in order to drive either said shaft gear on said crank gear.

18. A device of the class described comprising a reciprocable and rotatable shaft, a gear on said shaft, and means for either reciprocating or rotating said shaft comprising a. crank gear operatively connected to said shaft, a shiftable gear adapted to drive either said crank gear or said gear upon the shaft, and means for shifting said shiftable gear to drive either the crank gear or the gear upon said shaft.

19. In a device of the class described, a rotatable and longitudinally reciproc'able shaft, gearing adapted either to reciprocate longitudinally or to rotate said shaft, means for driving said gearing, said gearing including a shift-able gear operative for efi'ecting either movement of said shaft, and mech anism for shifting said gear whereby the shafct1 may be selectively rotated or reciprocate 20. In a device of the class described, a

said shaft, a tumbler gearoperable during both of said movements of the shaft, and means for shifting said gear whereby the shaft may be selectively rotated or reciprocated, said means being operable to effect shifting of said tumbler gear in any position of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALEXANDER GRAYDUN. 

